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People of Play, a division of The Toy Association, announced the speaker lineup and agenda for the 2026 Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, held Nov. 5-7 in Rosemont, Illinois. More than 80 product acquisition executives from 60 companies, including Mattel and Hasbro, are expected to attend, with Disney’s Chris Gollaher delivering the keynote.
People of Play, a division of The Toy Association, has announced the speaker lineup and agenda for the 2026 Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, taking place Nov. 5-7 at the Embassy Suites in Rosemont, Illinois. The announcement, reported by The Toy Book, details a three-day program of pitches, panels, and mentorship that will connect inventors with more than 80 product acquisition executives representing 60 companies, including Mattel, Hasbro, Ravensburger, and TOMY.
The conference brings together inventors, students, designers, and industry executives for educational sessions, networking, and product pitches. Confirmed attending companies include Mattel, Hasbro, Goliath, Asmodee, Moose Toys, Gray Matter Games, Jumbo Group, Thames & Kosmos, Basic Fun!, The Op, TOMY, Jazwares, Amigo, and Ravensburger.
The keynote address will be delivered by Chris Gollaher, director of product design and development at Disney Consumer Products, with representatives from Lucasfilm and Hasbro to be announced at a later date. The session, titled “From Galaxy to Toy Aisle: How Disney & Hasbro Bring Star Wars Toys to Life!,” will offer a behind-the-scenes look at how Disney and Hasbro designers collaborate to develop Star Wars toys, according to The Toy Book.
Programming covers artificial intelligence, legal and intellectual property topics, marketing strategies, and influencer collaboration. Panelists include Azhelle Wade of The Toy Coach, Yanira Wells of Duracell, Arta Alagheband of Jazwares, Elana Woldenberg Ruffman of hand2mind and Learning Resources, Michael Gray of Nixon Peabody, Matt Nuccio of Design Edge, Amy Friedland of Carve Communications, Rachel Griffin of Playwise Partners, Tracy Dudkiewicz of TAP Marketing, Steve Rad of Abacus Brands/Radical Games, and Jackie Brooks of Loudr Agency. The event also features Speed Meeting/Pitch sessions, where new inventors can showcase ideas at exhibit tables and connect directly with companies, plus bookable one-on-one mentoring sessions covering manufacturing, design, legal, retail, PR, and social media.
Access to Licensing Decision-Makers
The conference is one of the few settings where independent and student inventors can pitch directly to acquisition executives from major toy and game companies — the people who decide which concepts move toward licensing deals. With more than 80 executives from 60 companies expected, according to the announcement, the event functions as a concentrated marketplace for toy and game concepts that might otherwise struggle to reach decision-makers. Mary Couquin, Senior Vice President and Founder/Leader of People of Play, framed the event’s value in community terms: “Inventing can often feel like a solitary pursuit, but this conference reminds creators that they are part of an incredibly supportive and collaborative global community.”
The programming choices also signal current industry priorities, with dedicated sessions on artificial intelligence and influencer collaboration reflecting how toy marketing and product development are shifting. Registration includes admission to the TAGIE Awards on Nov. 6 and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair on Nov. 7-8, extending the event’s networking reach across the week.
Two Decades of Inventor Pitching
The Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference was founded in 2006 and is organized by People of Play, which is a division of The Toy Association. The event traditionally pairs new, professional, and student inventors with product acquisition executives through pitch sessions, panels, and mentoring. This year’s sponsors include Duracell, Longstore Limited, Backdrop.com, Eastar Game Manufacturing, Nextoy, Kid Group, and Brown Creative. Registration is available online at chitag.com.
“Inventing can often feel like a solitary pursuit, but this conference reminds creators that they are part of an incredibly supportive and collaborative global community.”
— Mary Couzin, Senior Vice President and Founder/Leader of People of Play at The Toy Association
Keynote Names Still Pending
The representatives from Lucasfilm and Hasbro who will join Chris Gollaher for the keynote session have not yet been announced; organizers said they will be revealed at a later date. The full schedule of one-on-one mentoring slots and which executives will staff the Speed Meeting/Pitch tables was not specified in the announcement, and the exact breakdown of session times has not been published in detail.
Registration and November Kickoff
Organizers expect the remaining keynote speakers to be named before the event. Prospective attendees can register online at chitag.com ahead of the Nov. 5-7 conference. The event runs alongside the TAGIE Awards on Nov. 6 at Joe’s Live Concert Venue and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair on Nov. 7-8 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, both included with conference registration.
Key Questions
When and where is the 2026 Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference?
The conference takes place Nov. 5-7, 2026 at the Embassy Suites in Rosemont, Illinois, near Chicago.
Who is delivering the keynote address?
Chris Gollaher, director of product design and development at Disney Consumer Products, will deliver the keynote, joined by representatives from Lucasfilm and Hasbro who will be announced at a later date. The session covers how Disney and Hasbro collaborate on Star Wars toys.
Which companies are sending acquisition executives?
More than 80 executives from 60 companies are expected, including Mattel, Hasbro, Goliath, Asmodee, Moose Toys, Thames & Kosmos, Basic Fun!, TOMY, Jazwares, and Ravensburger.
How can inventors pitch their ideas at the event?
Through Speed Meeting/Pitch sessions, where new inventors can display ideas at exhibit tables and meet companies directly, and through bookable one-on-one mentoring sessions covering manufacturing, design, legal, retail, PR, and social media.
Does registration include other events?
Yes. Registration includes admission to the TAGIE Awards on Nov. 6 and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair on Nov. 7-8.
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